Dial-A-Story: Adrian Earle
In this blog, we hear from poet Adrian Earle and discuss his involvement in our Dial-A-Story Project: A free performance via a phone call.
“To Leave Them and Their Heart in a Better Way…”
From First hearing about the ‘Dial a’ project I was Interested. Part of my practices as a poet is finding other ways to engage people with the form away from the traditional: poet stands at mic and speaks; Poem sits in book until it’s picked up and read. This seemed like an innovative approach to sharing poems and reaching out to people with most in need of that personal engagement.
Performing on the phone is something I had never considered until the project. And once it came up as an idea I realised I had all the tech required from my other poetry audio work to make a real go of it. The experience of performing a poem to one person at a time is what I imagine is the closest possible thing to being an invisible presence as someone reads your book maybe more intimate, more personal. As you have the responsibility of being their poet for the 15 minutes you are on the line with them. This gave me the opportunity to play with choice, asking directly ‘would you like the next poem to be about the sand or the sea; about bees or butterflies?’
The thing I learned quickest, and what will stay with me for the longest, is just how needed projects like this are. Though it may have rung hollow as a message: because it came from the wrong people or the wrong party, at the wrong time. There IS a huge issue with loneliness in this country, an issue the pandemic has only multiplied and made more complex. More effort than ever needs to be made to meet people where they are and artists and arts organisations have a huge part to play in this.
That said, like all art my poetry, and poetry in general might not be for everyone and part of reaching out as artists is being willing to have that conversation, talk to a reluctant or cautious listener between readings, let them know that they have permission to not like what you are performing for them! Furthermore they have permission to tell you why, to have that conversation, to say they like it when a poem rhymes, or that stuff about flowers bores them!
No one feels under obligation to like every song on an album, every item on a menu, or every painting in a gallery. So why should we expect every person to connect with every performance?
Even if it is to an audience of one down the phone, you as the performer are a visitor to their home or garden or room. I’ve learned that there is a power in that visitation but also a responsibility to leave them and their heart in a better condition than when you were first invited in.
Book a Performance
If you would like to book a FREE performance of Dial-a-Story, click below and fill out the booking form and we will get back to you ASAP.